DAILY- HOMILY

November 9, 2014

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

[Feast, Dedication Of The Lateran Basilica In Rome]

Ez 47: 1-2, 8-9, 12 / Ps 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9 / 1 Cor 3: 9c-11, 16-17 /  Jn 2: 13-22 

First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

The man brought me back to the entrance of the Temple and I saw water coming out of the threshold of the Temple and flowing eastwards. The Temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the Temple, from the south side of the altar. He then  brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing the east and there I saw the stream coming from the south side. He said to me, "This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome. Wherever the river flows, swarms of  creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful and the sea water will become fresh. Wherever it flows, life will abound. " Near the   river on both banks there will be all kinds of fruit trees  with foliage that will not wither and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop because the water comes from the Temple. The fruit will be good to eat and the leaves will be good for healing.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3: 9c-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters: "We are fellow-workers with God, but you are God's field and building.  I, as a good architect, according to the capacity given to me, I laid the foundation, and another is to build upon it. Each one must be careful how to build upon it. No one can lay a foundation other than the one which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Do you not know that you are God's temple, and that God's Spirit abides within you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him. God's temple is holy, and you are this temple."

Gospel: John 2:13-22

As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the Temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple court together with the oxen and sheep. He knocked over the tables of the money-changers, scattering the coins, and ordered the people selling doves, "Take all this away and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!" His disciples recalled the words of Scripture: "Zeal for your House devours me as a fire." The Jews then questioned Jesus, "Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do this?" And Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."  The Jews then replied, "The building of this temple has already taken forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" Actually Jesus was referring to the temple of his body. Only when he had risen from the dead did his disciples remember these words; then they believed both the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

Reflection:

     The first reading speaks of the Temple as the wellspring and source of life-giving and life-sustaining water. The Temple represents the Church: each one of us has entered the Church and has become a member of the Church through the life-giving water of baptism. Water cleanses and gives and sustains life. The images of life-giving water characterize the bountiful graces from the Church and its sacraments for all the faithful believers.

     In the second reading Paul speaks of the members of the Church as a temple, as God's building built with Christ as the foundation, and of each Christian as a temple of God. The Church was founded by Christ on St. Peter and the apostles. At the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the apostles were strengthened and graced to preach the Good News to the world.  The new Christians, the believers, were seen as the additional stones of the Church seen as a building. Christ is seen as the cornerstone, as the central keystone, on which and through which the Church stands, grows and survives. At baptism, the baptized is "freed from sin, given a new birth in water and the Holy Spirit and welcomed into his holy people."  The Church continues under the leadership of men and women called to this work. The physical building, church or temple, stands for the whole Church founded by Christ on Peter and the apostles and made up of all the baptized. It also represents the individual Christian who is indeed a temple or dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Each Christian, from the time he/she is baptized, is granted forgiveness of sins and is given God's grace. 

     In the Gospel reading Christ cleanses the temple at Jerusalem of the merchants, sellers and money-changers: "Take all this away and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!"  The Temple is the special dwelling place of Israel's God and of Israel's covenant with God.  

     The Lateran Basilica in Rome is the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome. Its official name is the "Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at the Lateran."   The celebration of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica in the whole Church is a sign of the union of all churches with the See of St. Peter and of its acceptance and recognition as the "mother and head of all churches in the city and in the world," because it is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the successor of St. Peter.

     We especially pray that our new Pontiff, Pope Francis, may be a faithful and effective leader of the Church of our time. We pray that the Church may be with him as he stresses its being a Church of and for the poor.

     We also pray that we be more conscious of the whole Church, that each one of us is a member and has a special and specific role in the Church, the mystical Body of Christ.  

     We also pray that we be responsible as holy temples of God's Spirit, sustained always by his saving presence and grace. 

Prayer Requests:

We pray ...

... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn. 

... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.

... for families who are in need of healing.

... for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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